Sophie Cunningham just did what the WNBA refuses to do in sticking up for Caitlin Clark

Thank you, Sophie Cunningham. As if it wasn’t obvious already, the only reason The Liberty Line ever talks about the WNBA is because of Caitlin Clark.

Not because we suddenly care about mid-June basketball in Connecticut or because we’re pretending to care about the Commissioner’s Cup. Not even because we love the Fever.

It’s Clark. That’s it. She’s the show. She’s the star. She’s the only shot this league has at mattering to anyone outside the echo chamber of women’s basketball media.

What does Caitlin Clark get in return for carrying the WNBA into relevancy? Well, shit like we witnessed last night. Like clockwork, some no-named WNBA player, Marina Mabrey, decided to slam the WNBA’s Golden Goose to the floor, well after the whistle.

Caitlin Clark gets poked in the eye. Targeted like she committed a crime by being more talented and more marketable than every other player combined. That’s how the WNBA treats its biggest draw. With jealousy and cheap shots.

Caitlin Clark slammed to the floor by Marina Mabrey

Kick Marina Maybrey outta the league. pic.twitter.com/SHR90jUbJO

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) June 18, 2025

WATCH: Caitlin Clark gets slammed to the floor by Marina Mabrey and what proceeded is a WNBA disaster class

I think that this is so fascinating because it’s so far beyond ridiculous. The WNBA is self-sabotaging their entire product in real time. I honestly wish they would just come out and say that they allow this shit to happen to drive engagement online and tv ratings. That would be more acceptable than pretending these players are just “playing hard.”

It’s a broken strategy. Players want higher salaries and more exposure but then act like Caitlin Clark is the enemy for bringing all of that to the table. Instead of embracing the spotlight she brings, they’re trying to snuff it out with weak fouls and attitude. You could not draw up a dumber business model if you tried.

Enter Sophie Cunningham.

Up 17. Less than a minute left. Clark had been catching cheap shots all game and Sophie decided she’d had it. So she delivered a message the only way the WNBA seems to understand, by throwing someone to the floor.

Jacy Sheldon met the hardwood and Sophie Cunningham got tossed. Worth it. Every team needs an enforcer and now we know who wears that badge in Indiana.

WNBA refs have completely lost control in Fever/Sun game pic.twitter.com/suGf5aQxAW

— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) June 18, 2025

WNBA refs are complete idiots for letting this get out of hand, just as the tweet above states. Because of that, Sophie Cunningham was not about to let Caitlin Clark take shots without consequence. That’s what a real teammate does. You don’t go after someone’s superstar. You protect them. You fight for them. The rest of the league wants to act like Clark has to earn their respect but in reality, it should be the other way around.

If the WNBA wants more fans and more coverage, then they have to stop with all the bullshit and simply ride the Caitlin Clark wave. They should be thanking her for every camera that shows up to the previously half-empty gyms that the WNBA occupied before her arrival.

Without Caitlin Clark, no one is watching. There’s zero momentum in the WNBA and minus-Clark, there’s no buzz or reason to care. But sure, let the WNBA keep pretending that shoving the league’s golden ticket after the whistle is “just being competitive.”

Let’s keep acting like targeting Clark is some rite of passage instead of the dumbest way to burn your own house down.

Sophie Cunningham got ejected for doing what the entire league office should be doing for years at this point, by protecting the investment and brand that truly is Caitlin Clark.

One last note, this was a funny tweet.

He saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and used it to introduce his hand to Sophie Cunningham’s ass pic.twitter.com/Cp8iQhuXsq

— Tyler (@Tyler6680268439) June 18, 2025

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